HOUSTON, Sept. 24 -- GE Energy, Florence, has completed the testing of three large refrigerating compressors trains to be installed in Europe's first LNG liquefaction-export plant being constructed on Melkøya Island in the Arctic Ocean north of Hammerfest, Norway.

The compressors, driven by variable speed electric motors instead of the usual gas turbines, were tested in Massa, Italy, but under conditions designed to reproduce actual project operating conditions and using most of the actual project equipment. The units satisfied all operating requirements, with efficiency higher than expected, GE reported.

Germany's Linde AG, the main contractor, is constructing the LNG plant for project operator Statoil ASA.